Page 42 of Kingdom of Faewood

Jax straightened and put his hands on his hips, regarding me coolly.

My self-loathing grew when I saw the trail of crimson glistening again on his pants.Stars and galaxy, I did that to him.

It didn’t help that he didn’t say another word, just keptassessing me. And to make matters even worse, he still didn’t lash out. He just looked at me, as though asking,Are you done?

Cheeks heating, I waved toward the valley and ignored the guilt that spiraled through me. “Is that a desert down there?”

“It is.” He nodded down the mountain’s slope, not even a trace of anger evident in his words. “That’s the Shadow Valley. Magnificent, isn’t it?”

“Um...yes.” I frowned. I hadn’t intended to have a random conversation about the scenery, especially after abusing him nonetheless. If anything, his calm reaction to my fierce one was making me feel like the biggest pile of domal dung that had ever existed. With flustered movements, I waved at the northern horizon. “Where are we ultimately?—”

“Hungry?” Bowan called before I could finish my question. The brunette threw me a piece of dried meat, and I caught it automatically.

Beside him, Lars was quietly cooking food over the fire. Flames now roared in the pit. Crackling and snapping sounds rose as well.

The redhead was placing thick buns on a metal grate and holding it over the heat. Next to that, a hearty stew was simmering, coming from one of their containers.

My shame grew even more as I watched the males work. They’d continued readying the camp and cooking supper, carrying on despite my theatrics. And other than wiping the blood away that I’d drawn, Jax hadn’t shown any reaction to my momentary display of rage either.

The feeling of being ahugepile of domal dung grew exponentially.

Absentmindedly, I chewed on the piece of dried meat as Lars dished heaping ladles of stew into large bowls.

“Supper’s ready,” Lars called.

“Elowen?” Jax indicated for me to go first. He gave me a bowl filled with fragrant soup, then grabbed one for himself, the others doing the same.

Feeling even more foolish, I sat on the ground by the fire and picked up a spoon. Delicious aromas of tender meat, thick gravy, and root vegetables rose from the bowl. My stomach howled in anticipation.

“Try one of these.” Bowan winked, his earring flashing in the firelight. “Best honeybuns in all the kingdoms.” He pushed a plate with two doughy buns toward me. Rich butter was melted all over them.

Stomach rumbling in appreciation, I picked up the plate but was too hungry to bother watching what everyone else was doing. I dug into the stew, closing my eyes in rapture when the first taste hit my tongue. The thick, soft buns complemented it perfectly, and I wolfed all of it down.

“Galaxy, that’s good,” I whispered more to myself than anyone.

A chuckle came from beside me. “A female who likes to eatandisn’t afraid to fight.” Phillen sat on the ground next to me, his thick thighs straining against his pants in his crossed-legged position. “My wife would like you.”

Wife?I eyed him curiously as he tucked into his food. He ate with as much gusto as I did despite his mask staying in place.

I set my empty bowl aside and wiped my lips, then cleansed my buttery fingers with my magic. Around me, all of the males were still eating.

Jax sat directly across the fire from me. His eyes never left me despite eating quickly and efficiently. It amazed me that he could bring his spoon under his mask so easily, the fabric not slowing him even slightly.

Still reeling that I’d hit him, I hastily looked away.

Sounds of spoons scraping on bowls and the crackling fire filled the space. I waited for one of them to order something of me now that everyone was settled. My entire life, orders had come regularly.

Sit straighter, Elowen.

Wear that gown, Elowen, not this one.

Wake at sunrise, Elowen. We have a calling just past seven.

You’re to entertain this lordling, Elowen. He wants more than just a calling, so flirt with him, make him feel special.

For full seasons, my life had been a string of demands and expected responses. I’d learned to be dutiful and appeasing, and after hitting Jax, a part of me was hoping he would ask something of me. Demand it. Orders were familiar. Orders I could handle.

But this companionable silence, after I’d abused him so egregiously, made me want to jump out of my skin.

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